South Carolina finally has a depth chart. Here are 5 thoughts about it
Never mind the season started three days ago. South Carolina has released its first depth chart of the season.
The 10th-ranked Gamecocks chose not to reveal the depth chart before the season, with coach Shane Beamer saying he wanted to avoid “overreactions.” The result was genuine surprise watching who did and did not take the field during USC’s 24-11 win over Virginia Tech.
But now that we have the actual depth chart, we can react. Here are five thoughts:
1. This might just be last week’s depth chart
Given what we saw on Sunday, a few names listed on the depth chart don’t make much sense.
For instance: Beamer said cornerback Judge Collier is “doubtful” to play against S.C. State after suffering a knee injury last week. Yet, he’s still listed as the first-team CB with Myles Norwood as his backup.
Another player listed as a first-teamer is left guard Rodney Newsom Jr., who played all of the first half on Saturday but was replaced by Markee Anderson in the second half. Perhaps that’s accurate and Newsom will start again, but that was surprising.
Also interesting: Jared Brown is listed as a second-team wide receiver despite not playing a single snap against Virginia Tech. On Tuesday, Beamer said Brown was “healthy, but he was a little limited in practice heading into the game.”
2. Veteran receivers at the top
It was a tad surprising after seeing in the Gamecocks freshman wide receivers dominate in the spring game, and hearing constant praise from coaches, that they accounted for just one catch.
Looking at the depth chart, though, it’s more understandable.
Nyck Harbor, Vandrevious Jacobs and Mazeo Bennett are the three first-string receivers. Behind Harbor is Irmo’s Donovan Murph, who played the most of the freshmen and accounted for the one catch.
Behind Jacobs are Brown and freshman Malik Clark.
And behind Bennett are freshmen Brian Rowe Jr. and Jayden Sellers.
3. Still not sure about QB3
At many positions, the depth chart only shows the two-deep. That means that we still aren’t certain whether Ohio State transfer Air Noland or freshman Cutter Woods won the third-string QB battle.
Based upon watching warmups on Sunday, though, it looked like Noland got the nod. He was tossing passes behind LaNorris Sellers and Luke Doty while Woods was off to the side throwing balls to defensive backs.
4. There’s depth at defensive tackle
Among all the talk about South Carolina’s newcomers this offseason, it might be generous to say 1% of the discourse revolved around transfer defensive tackle transfers Troy Pikes (Georgia Southern) and Davonte Miles (Bowling Green).
Both are listed on the depth chart behind Monkell Goodwine and, well, both played on Sunday.
Per Pro Football Focus, Pikes played 19 snaps and Miles lined up for nine. It was proof that the D-line is going to rotate plenty of guys.
5. Looking at specialists
You probably know that South Carolina had a special teams overhaul this offseason after losing almost every starter from 2024. Here’s how the Gamecocks’ specialists depth chart shook out.
Kicker: William Joyce // Mason Love
Punter: Love // Max Kelley
Kickoff specialist: Kelley // Love
Long snapper: Cole Rasmussen // Kyler Farrow
Kickoff returner: Nyck Harbor // Vicari Swain
Punt returner: Swain // Jalon Kilgore
This story was originally published September 2, 2025 at 5:55 PM.
